New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-11
THE DRAMA.
MADISON sQUA"E-rHE MARTYR

49,, ., ,ha Madam Souare Thearo on "cohos"A''
and Tho Martyr was brought for"a'u 10" ,
n 6ne house, despite the Storm Ih'S u "o' ~
tr,cd NAV J, wac brought out in America o'o '"an
''" p' -. (,,,.aco xsbere Mr. Palmers company
narod with A. and since that time " nay wv"
80 A., o,har .otes with attendant good io''"no
Tn, niece comes from tho fronoh OF d, .""'.,I,
and IL ts devised and written IN mo e'" ',
mapne, OF that ingenious master OF poe a"" e'""'o'
II b.s been adapted and considerably ohaheeo ior 'ho
American stage by A Il Cazaurah- "A Proso"oo
last night 1t is comprised In six act@ inc observer
,rho snbiccts IL to searching analysis viii discover
that while its suporsi is exec dngy interesting
,cture,oue and impressive. It's foundation Ia some
what deficient In tho solidty ~ nature ana reason
Concerning tho heroine Of this POGO tits said that she
WAS born to stand In tho breach OF misfortune IL
ia. in Other wor Is. her chronic disposition to help
other people, and In this good work OF saving others
from injury ,he will sacrifice herself all occasions
Tho play relates and celebrates her sctsaonhc' ana
II called "The Martyr" because she Is tho oeh'rai
figure of Its story.
when human sympathy is to be awakened any ono
exposition of the suffering angel IL. practca ly, as
effective "a another but In work of art 1t h desir-
able that the suffering angel may always have right
and sense her sde. we'll as godnoss and pathos
The heroine Of "The Martyr" unQne tonabiy meits
tho bcho,der's heart but unquostionaoy' aso' inc
sacrifice that makes Of herself Is Irrational ana
wrong she 10 . blameless and happy wiie and
mother. She Ia tho custodian Of a secret which II
revealed will disparage tho reput ation of her mo'her
and disturb tho happiness VI her stcpfather That
secret Is about to struggle into tho light There s
NO reason why sho shoid not and thcrc sevcy ressoi
why che snouid. have revealed 1t to her noble AND
a1ectionnte husband Revealed It, however, she has
not. and 1t proclaims itself she assumes
tho guilt of sdutery-oasting tho blight of misery
and shame upon her husband and her daughter In order
that her mother bo shielded and hor step father
may end hIs respectable days IN peace The dramatic
situation It Is true, has boon art y contrIved so as
to make tho of her husband from conviction .,
a murderer the apparent Justification Of her svowa
OF guilt But 1t IL to be considered that few words
with him In private would have defeated this point by
clearing up tho mystery; that his final position
morally, IL nethor botter nor safer than IL would
then have boen and that, under any crcumst ancos
the first duty Of wife and mohor ia to bor chi dron
and hor husband and not to hor parents. Self sscr
fee. undcnisbly. Is noble virtue, but even virtue
must keep within bounds There is no approciabie
difference. lrdecd. between vco and crazy iocttude,
when bgoed goodness chooses not the least but tho
greatest of two evils and thus oserwhcns with suffer-
ing and disgrace precisely those persons whom IL
ought. first Of all and most of all, to protect.
Analysis of "Tho Martyr" however, is but llttlo
likely TO be made by the public that sees tho excel ent
performance Of this play which given by Ito actors
the Madison Square Theatre Spectators In general
will yield themselves TO tho story, and the story Is
ono OF engaging interest told by means Of the essen
tia element of drama, which 10 action. lbealiy sar-
nished with striking Incidents, and froightod with
diverse character and abundant sympathetic emotion
The sceDo opens In q garrett at Naples orothei
and sister, tho one an official clerk and tho other
ballet girl and both vagabonds, have an opportunity
to pcrsonae tho heirs of vast estate They Improve
this successfully, and they become rich The girl
obtains title by wedding with an aged noblenan
who Is at the point Of death, and who conveniently
expires at tho conclusion of the marriage service
These swindlers then proceed to Paris, whore they
become inmates of tho household Of General Moray
an honorable man. who has wife and daughter,
the latter being absent In India Tho advontuross
becomes enamOred Of :" General Moray" Tho advent
urer gets upon tho scent Of Mrs Moray's" secret
which is that her mother, the wife of venerable
naval officer, Is also tho mothor OF an IL legitimate
child born many years before now grown to manhood,
and engaged In levyng blackmal upon Mrs
Moray Of exposure of her mothors dis
grace. I" 3lrs. Moray" has met the youth privately,
and she Is engaged In brbing him to hold his peace.
The adventure assumes that he is her lover. Tho
affair Is iIisreprcsented to General Moray" under
theatrical conditions Off complicated and exciting KIND,
and hercupOn he shoots the blackmailer, regulates
the sefcOEdemned wife, and, within six months
from that time weds with the adventures who has
caused ali his trouble The opportuno introduction
Of the old lady preliminary incident to tho scene
OF the shooting Is sklful and fortunate oeVico 10
prevent the avowai Of tho mystery, and to promote
and accelerate the action
and his wife the drama expaates for some time
upon their distinctive conditions of misery, and upJb
a complication of wrctcbedness which involves all who
are connected with them. The daughter comes homo
from India under tho Of benevolent and hun0r-
Gus old scotchman the adventurer tries ~ Obtain er
hand In marriage tho martyr interposs' 10 rescue her
child from the repugnant fate Of matrimony; the
"Admra" dies che General" tires Of his new VITO
an explanation rendered feasible by the dexterty
Of the Scotchman and finally, while the two advent
urers 60 TO prison. for swlndng reunion, peace and
love supposed TO be established In General
Moray's" abOde
II tho preiminares arc accepted as RATIONALE and in
deed, whether they or not-the ensuing situations
arc found possess strong Interest," graphic theatrical
effect, and tho quality Of sympathy. Tho atmosphere
which invests this pay 10 kindred with that Of ouch
plays as Tho stranger" and &" Miss Mutton DIS
mnon of fanny te, hearts rent asuacer that long
to 10 reunited maternal devotion, hiia Ddely these
are the themes upon which It's expression wreahed,
and these .are Always pathetic. Viewed a. al eIposl
ton of human nature and OF the probabilities VI human
but as a d. anna IL is exceptionally strong Mr. Palmer
has invested with appropriate scenery and the cast
tndicIous The Martyr" Mrs Moray" acted
In a mood Of noble dignity. with great tenderness,
aoS s"A S P So Of GENERA Moray
displayed degree OF wounded sonsibty such As might
sncst explain that GcerS tendency TO PIP $ ap
pcarancc This enacted the humorous old scotch
The crowded h9us s tSa % bn na
tenderness, and sub1ued and quaint but invarlaDiy
the comedians Of our time and which he again most
touchingly displayed. Almost all tho light OF
bumnr AT there IL this pleco shines from this char
actor Mr. Stoddart was delightful in It. There Is
Q glow OF humor. ALSO In tho appant ra-cal'ty OF
Palmierler and this strongly denoted by heI-
ander Salvln who give, e.h tokens OF talent In ovory
new part that he plays Tho two italian adventuiers
were happlv cast to Alexander Sslvin and Mathlldo
Madlson-botb fore gner. both remarkable for natural
vigor and s-ome and pictorial grace, and both happy
In a fluent mood OF gypsy freedom and fascination
Mrs Phillips several moments Vf pathos, to which
he proved entirely equal Perhaps tho most charming
bit In tho play Ia the Of the daughtors return
to the home which I'm her absence has boon blighted
but rebuilt Miss Annie Russell here charmed the
startled into apprehension. and finally changed 10
the passionate resentment OF injured Glla love
Mr. Il. NJ. Holland. old corporal of NapOles n's
army confidential servant, provided a sketch
character worthy of his expert skill and fine artistic
discrctlOn The moribund French nobleInan. PLAYED
by Mr. T1ocktOn. wac roCOgnIzed a capital bit OF